Tea enjoys a special place in British culture and the tea industry has played a key role in building links between Britain, India and Bangladesh. Behind Britain’s cup of choice is a fascinating story that is rarely told...

Over 500,000 British-Bangladeshis now live in Britain. Over 90% are of Sylheti origin, from a district in northern Bangladesh that was once part of Assam, the first tea growing region in British India. This exhibition reveals the extraordinary story of how the British love of tea led to Sylhetis first coming to Britain, and explores how the early tea trade led to strong links being built between modern-day Bangladesh and Britain.

River of Tea: From Bengal to Britain is an Exhibition of Photographs by Tim Smith. The River of Tea project is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.